Researchers studying cell cycle regulation in budding yeast have observed that a mutation in the CDC15 gene causes cell cycle arrest in telophase when the yeast cells are incubated at an elevated temperature. Which of the following statements best predicts the effect of the cell cycle arrest on proliferating yeast cells? A The yeast cells will transition out of G_(0) but will fail to complete the G_(1) phase. B The yeast cells will initiate mitosis but will fail to complete the G_(2) phase. C The yeast cells will replicate their chromosomes but will fail to complete cytokinesis. D The yeast cells will replicate their organelles but will fail to complete the S phase.

The correct answer is C. The yeast cells will replicate their chromosomes but will fail to complete cytokinesis.<br /><br />Explanation:<br />- The mutation in the CDC15 gene causes cell cycle arrest in telophase, which is the final stage of mitosis.<br />- In telophase, the chromosomes have already been replicated and separated into two daughter cells.<br />- However, the cell cycle arrest prevents the completion of cytokinesis, which is the process of dividing the cytoplasm and organelles between the two daughter cells.<br />- Therefore, the yeast cells will replicate their chromosomes but will fail to complete cytokinesis, leading to cell cycle arrest in telophase.